Louisville unites against hatred, violence

Author:
Dennis Ting , WHAS

Published:
7:21 PM EDT August 13, 2017

Updated:
11:29 PM EDT August 13, 2017

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS) -- With signs, chants and speeches, hundreds in Louisville took a stand Sunday against hatred, responding to the violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend.

"We do something. We stand up. We speak out," Louisville Metro Council President David Yates said. "We come together in unity. That's what we're doing today."

"Each and every one of us, we must confront racism, bias and bigotry everywhere, every day, every time," Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith said.

Several Louisville Metro Council members joined other city and religious leaders for a rally in Jefferson Square Park Sunday afternoon to raise a combined voice denouncing hate groups.

"Even though we may not always agree on every issue, today we stand united because this type of hate will not be tolerated here or anywhere," Councilwoman Angela Leet said.

"It's a little bit scary but it's time to say no. This is not how it's supposed to be in our country," Beth Yager, who attended the rally, said. "I mean why are we still doing this in 2017? I kept thinking why are we still doing this?"

Black Lives Matter also held a rally and a march down Broadway to walk in solidarity with the counter-protesters in Charlottesville.

"We have to stick together," Rev. David Snardon of Joshua Tabernacle Baptist Church said. "If one of us falls down, the other person has to pick the other one up."

"I'm just all in all disappointed in how this all kind of turned out, but at the same time, I'm just very proud to be an American," Alek Kissel, 12, said.

Hundreds came out to each rally, including Kissel, who left Sunday's rally with a new mission to combat hatred.

"It's important to just keep your head up and always continue with a smile on your face and be proud to be who you are and love everybody right next to you," she said.